Wilmington District Brigade
Active1776-1783
AllegianceUnited States North Carolina
BranchNorth Carolina militia
Typeinfantry brigade
Engagementssee § Engagements
Commanders
Notable
commanders
  1. Brigadier General John Ashe, Sr.
  2. Brigadier General John Alexander Lillington
  3. Brigadier General James Kenan (Pro Tempore)

The Wilmington District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). This unit was established by the North Carolina Provincial Congress on May 4, 1776, and disbanded at the end of the war.[1]

Leadership

Colonel John Ashe, Sr. was the first commander of the New Hannover County Regiment in 1775. He commanded the Wilmington District brigade from 1776 to 1778 when he was promoted on May 4, 1776 to Major General over all North Carolina militia and state troops until 1779.[1]

Regiments

The following are the North Carolina militia regiments and subordination of the Wilmington District Brigade, along with the dates established and disestablished.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

Unit Subordinate Brigade Created Disbanded Original Commander, Rank
North Carolina Militia and State Troops Governor 1778 1783 Ashe, John Sr., M.G. (1778–1779)
Wilmington District Brigade North Carolina Militia 1776 1783 Ashe, John Sr., B.G. (1776–1778)
1st Battalion of Militia Wilmington 1776 1776 Brown, Thomas, Col (1776)
2nd Battalion of Militia Wilmington 1776 1776 Hawkins, Philemon, Jr., Col (declined to serve), Col Peter Dozier (1776)[8][9]
Bladen County Regiment Salisbury 1775 1783 Robeson, Thomas, Jr., Col (1775–1789, 1781), [10]
Brunswick County Regiment Wilmington 1775 1783 Howe, Robert, Col (1775)
Cumberland County Regiment Wilmington 1775 1783 Rutherford, Thomas, Col (1775–1776)
Duplin County Regiment Wilmington 1775 1783 Kenan, James, Col (1775–1783)
New Hanover County Regiment Wilmington 1775 1783 Moore, James, Col (1775)
Onslow County Regiment Wilmington 1775 1783 Cray, William, Col (1775–1778)[11]

1st and 2nd Battalions of Militia

The 1st and 2nd Battalions of Militia were hastily established on May 7, 1776 because of the threat of British fleet off the coast of North Carolina at Cape Fear in March 1776. The British did not come ashore in any large number and intended to go to Charleston, South Carolina, instead. The Battalions were marched to Wilmington but saw no action. They saw no action and were disbanded on August 13, 1776. The troops were sent home.[12]

The 1st Battalion of Militia was commanded by Colonel Thomas Brown. The 2nd Battalion of Militia was commanded by Col. Peter Dauge. Col. Philemon Hawkins, Jr. had initially been appointed as commander of the 2nd Battalion but he declined the commission.[12][13]

Bladen County Regiment

The Bladen County Regiment established in Bladen County on July 16, 1775. It was authorized on September 9, 1775 by the Province of North Carolina Congress and commanded by Col. Thomas Robeson, Jr. (1775–1779, 1781), Col. Thomas Brown (1778–1782), and Col. Thomas Owen (1776–1783, 2nd colonel). The regiment was engaged in 16 known battles and skirmishes between 1776 and 1781. It was disbanded at the end of the war in 1783.[14][15][16][17]

Brunswick County Regiment

The Brunswick County Regiment was subordinated to the Wilmington District Brigade. It was established in March 1775. The first commander of the regiment was Colonel Robert Howe.[18][19]

Cumberland County Regiment

The Cumberland County Regiment was subordinate to the Wilmington District Brigade. The regiment was established on September 9, 1775. The first commander was Colonel Thomas Rutherford.[20]

Duplin County Regiment

The Duplin County Regiment was subordinate to the Wilmington District Brigade. The regiment was established on September 9, 1775. The first commander was Colonel James Kenan.[21]

New Hanover County Regiment

The New Hannover County Regiment was subordinated to the Wilmington District Brigade. The regiment was established in March 1775. The initial commander was Colonel James Moore.[22][23]

Onslow County Regiment

The Onslow County Regiment was subordinate to the Wilmington Districgt Brigade. It was established on September 9, 1775. The first commander of the regiment was Colonel William Cray.[24][25]

Engagements

Regiments of the Wilmington District Brigade were involved in 49 known engagements (battles, sieges, and skirmishes), including one in Georgia, 9 in South Carolina, 39 in North Carolina. The 1st and 2nd Battalion of Militia did not see any action. One or more companies of these regiments were involved in each engagement.[1]

Order Date Battle State
Bladen
Brunswick
Cumberland
Duplin
New Hanover
Onslow
1 7/18/1775 Battle of Fort Johnston #1 NC x
2 11/16/1775 to 11/21/1775 Battle of Fort Johnston #2 NC x
3 1/27/1776 to 1/28/1776 Battle of Fort Johnston #3 NC x
4 2/10/1776 Battle of Cape Fear River NC x
5 2/27/1776 Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge NC x x x x x
6 3/8/1776 to 3/12/1776 Battle of Fort Johnston #4 NC x
7 4/6/1776 Battle of Brunswick Town #1 NC x
8 5/1/1776 to 5/3/1776 Battle of Fort Johnston #5 NC x
9 5/17/1776 Battle of Brunswick Town #2 NC x
10 5/23/1776 Battle of Fort Johnston #6 NC x
11 6/28/1776 Battle of Fort Moultrie #1 SC x
12 3/3/1779 Battle of Briar Creek GA x x x x x
13 6/20/1779 Battle of Stono Ferry SC x x x x
14 1/30/1780 Battle of Heron's Bridge NC x x x x x
15 3/28/1780 to 5/12/1780 Siege of Charleston 1780 SC x x x x x
16 3/29/1780 to 3/30/1780 Battle of Gibbes' Plantation SC x
17 8/11/1780 Battle of Little Lynches Creek SC x x
18 8/16/1780 Battle of Camden SC x x x x x
19 10/14/1780 Battle of Shallow Ford NC x
20 10/1/1780 to 10/30/1780 Battle of Myhand's Bridge #1 NC x
21 10/7/1780 Battle of Kings Mountain SC x
22 10/30/1780 Battle of Bear Swamp SC x
23 1/28/1781 Battle of Wilmington #1 NC x
24 2/1/1781 to 2/28/1781 Battle of Bacon's Inlet NC x
25 3/1/1781 Battle of Cole's Bridge NC x
26 3/1/1781 to 3/31/1780 Battle of Rouse's Tavern NC x
27 3/15/1781 Battle of Guilford Court House NC x x x
28 3/27/1781 Battle of Barbeque Church NC x
29 5/11/1781 Battle of Cohera Swamp NC x
30 5/13/1781 Battle of Legat's Bridge NC x
31 5/13/1781 Battle of Myhand's Bridge #2 NC x
32 5/16/1781 Battle of Portevent's Mill NC x
33 7/1/1781 to 7/31/1781 Battle of Ray's Mill Creek NC x
34 7/4/1781 Battle of Wilmington #2 NC x
35 7/26/1781 Battle of Stewart's Creek #2 NC x x
36 7/29/1781 Battle of House in the Horseshoe NC x
37 8/2/1781 Battle of Rockfish Creek NC x x
38 8/4/1781 Battle of Beatti's Bridge NC x
39 8/14/1781 Battle of Cumberland County Court House NC x
40 8/19/1781 Battle of New Bern NC x
41 8/27/1781 Battle of Tory Hole[26] NC x x
42 9/1/1781 Battle of Little Raft Swamp NC x
43 9/1/1781 to 9/30/1781 Battle of Brown Marsh NC x x x
44 9/1/1781 to 9/30/1781 Battle of Hood's Creek NC x x
45 9/8/1781 Battle of Eutaw Springs SC x
46 9/13/1781 Battle of Lindley's Mill NC x x
47 10/15/1781 Battle of Raft Swamp NC x
48 11/18/1781 Evacuation of Wilmington NC x x x
49 12/1/1781 to 12/31/1781 Battle of Big Juniper Creek NC x

References

  1. ^ a b c Lewis, J.D. "The American Revolution in North Carolina, Wilmington District Brigade of militia". Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  2. ^ Howard, Josh. "NCPedia, North Carolina in the US Revolution". Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  3. ^ Crow, Jeffrey J. (1975). A Chronicle of North Carolina During the American Revolution, 1763–1789. Raleigh: North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and History.
  4. ^ Durham, J. Lloyd. "Outfitting an American Revolutionary Soldier, Equipment of a Militiaman". NCPedia. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  5. ^ Howard, Josh. "North Carolina in the US Revolution". NCPedia. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  6. ^ Lewis, J.D. "The American Revolution in North Carolina, Militia". Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  7. ^ Towles, Louis P. (2006). "Colonial Militia". NCPedia. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  8. ^ Maupin, Armistead Jones (1988). "Philemon Hawkins". NCPedia.
  9. ^ Fry, Claudia A. (1986). "Peter Dauge-Dozier". Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  10. ^ Smith, Maud Thomas (1994). "Thomas Robeson". NCPedia.
  11. ^ Littleton, Tucker Reed (1979). "William Cray". NCPedia.
  12. ^ a b Lewis, J.D. "NC 2nd Battalion". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  13. ^ Lewis, J.D. "NC 1st Battalion". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  14. ^ Lewis, J.D. "Bladen County Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  15. ^ Smith, Maud Thomas (1994). "Thomas Robeson". NCPedia. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  16. ^ Snow, Claude H. Jr. (1979). "Thomas Brown". NCPedia. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  17. ^ Powell, Williams S. (1991). "Thomas Owen". NCPedia. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  18. ^ Lewis, J.D. "Brunswick County Regiment". carolona.com. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  19. ^ Rankin, Hugh F. (1988). "Howe, Robert | NCpedia". NCPEDIA. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  20. ^ Lewis, J.D. "North Carolina Cumberland County Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  21. ^ Lewis, J.D. "Duplin County Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  22. ^ Lewis, J.D. "New Hanover County Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  23. ^ Troxler, George (1991). "Moore, James". In Powell, William S. (ed.). Dictionary of North Carolina Biography. Vol. 4 (L-O). Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 978-0-8078-1918-0.
  24. ^ Lewis, J.D. "Onslow County Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  25. ^ Littleton, Tucker Reed (1979). "William Cray". NCPEDIA. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  26. ^ Tetterton, Beverly (2006). "Battle of Elizabethtown, Tory Hole". NCPedia.

See also

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